NEED: The discovery of Virginia sneezeweed in Missouri after many years of the species being known only from Virginia has shown that species could very well occur in similar habitats in
eastern North America. Virginia sneezeweed is very similar to the common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) and could possibly be mistaken for this common species. The species
could very well occur in Ohio as the habitat it grows in, shallow sinkhole ponds, occurs in the
Interior Low Plateau region of southwest Ohio. This rare sneezeweed likely occurs in between
Missouri & Virginia in suitable habitats and an intensive survey for this species in the field and in Ohio herbaria is needed to verify its presence or absence in Ohio.

Appalachian or Virginia spiraea (Spiraea virginiana) is primarily found in the Appalachian
Mountains in Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West
Virginia. Several locations of Appalachian spiraea were discovered in Ohio in the early 1990s
along Scioto Brush Creek in Scioto County. The Ohio populations are at the northwestern limit
of the species range.

Other waterways in the vicinity of Scioto Brush Creek have not been surveyed including Bear,
Camp and Sunfish Creeks. Sunfish Creek is very similar to Scioto Brush Creek in flow regime,
size, and vegetation and has the best possibility of having additional populations of this Federally
Threatened species. Sunfish Creek is entirely in Pike County and flows into the Scioto River as
do Bear and Camp Creeks. Bear and Camp Creeks are between Sunfish and Scioto Brush
Creeks. These two creeks are smaller systems than Sunfish and Scioto Brush Creeks. Although
their size and flow may not be the best conditions for the species, Appalachian spiraea may occur
on these smaller systems because of its close proximity to Scioto Brush Creek and they both flow
directly into the Scioto River.

The Division of Natural Areas & Preserves (DNAP) recently a cquired land that contains one of
the known populations of Appalachian spiraea on the Scioto Brush Creek. A detailed map of the
population and a census are needed to determine the condition of this population and to develop
a management plan for this site.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this project will be to determine if there are any ccurrences of
the Federally Endangered Helenium virginicum in Ohio through field surveys and examining specimens in Ohio herbaria; and if there are any populations of the Federally Threatened Spiraea virginiana along Sunfish Creek and nearby streams. A secondary objective (contingent on discovery of new populations) will be to conserve these sites through fee-simple purchase,
conservation easements or management MOUs.

EXPECTED RESULTS OR BENEFITS: The results of this project will be to determine if Helenium virginicum occurs in Ohio and if Spiraea virginiana occurs along Bear, Camp and
Sunfish Creeks (which all feed into the lower Scioto River and have a good possibility for S.
virginiana populations). If sites are located for either of these two species, the site will become a priority site for conservation. Division staff will contact landowner(s) about conservation
options such as conservation easements, management agreements or outright sale to the Division
or other conservation organization.

APPROACH: For the Helenium virginicum, staff of the Heritage Program (DNAP) will visit
four major Ohio herbaria, Kent State University, Miami University, Ohio University, and The
Ohio State University that may contain specimens from southern Ohio for any mis-identified
specimens of the similar Helenium autumnale. We will visit ponds and other wetlands in the
Interior Low Plateau region of Ohio in Adams and Pike counties during its peak blooming period
in August and September (Attachment A). If populations are found during the survey, detailed habitat information, and number of plants, or stems for S. virginiana, including number of
flowering plants will be collected for each site. Observed threats to the population will be noted as well. Population location and area will be mapped with a GPS unit. Voucher specimens will
be deposited at the Ohio State University herbarium.

Photographs will be taken of the habitat
and individual plants.

For the Spiraea virginiana, Heritage staff will conduct surveys from canoe and by foot along the stretch of Sunfish Creek from St. Rt. 32 to its confluence with the Scioto River. We will also
visit the lower stretch of Bear and Camp Creeks. If populations are found during the survey,
detailed habitat information will be collected as well as total number of stems, number of
flowering stems, and any observed threats to the population will be noted.

Population location
and area will be mapped with a GPS unit. Voucher specimens will be deposited at the Ohio
State University herbarium. Photographs will be taken of the habitat and individual plants.

DNAP staff will also do detailed mapping and population census of the known population on the
recently acquired Beach Tract on the Scioto Brush Creek and write a management plan for this
site.